​Douglas Furth asks: Ed, you wrote an article this week about realistic expectations, and on the surface it seems sensible. But it feels to me (without having run a scientific study) that teams don’t typically improve incrementally over multiple years. More often, it seems bad teams reach a tipping point and suddenly get a lot better. So I have two questions: what do you think about the tipping-point theory, and does bringing in a top-tier coach along with a couple of impact players push this Giants team toward that tipping point?
Ed answers: Douglas, there is some truth in what you’re saying. There are teams that occasionally do what the New England Patriots did last season—surging from four wins to 14 and reaching the Super Bowl. Building something sustainable, though, takes time. The Giants enjoyed a big breakout year in 2022 seemingly out of nowhere, and then slipped back into their losing ways. That 2022 season rested on a fragile foundation and wasn’t sustainable.
On paper, it might look as if the Chicago Bears experienced a rapid turnaround last year. My argument is that, starting in 2022, GM Ryan Poles built what the Bears have become brick by brick. He accumulated 21 draft picks across 2022 and 2023 to lay the groundwork. He secured his quarterback, Caleb Williams, with a bold trade up to obtain the No. 1 pick in 2024. He paired Williams with the right coach for him, Ben Johnson, the following year. The Bears now appear to have a sustainable setup as long as Williams and Johnson remain together. That is the blueprint teams are chasing.
Gregg Wanlass asks: Ed, optimism is perpetual this time of year, but even with what seems to be the deepest Giants roster we’ve seen in a while, it likely will hinge on how it’s utilized. No matter the situation or down-and-distance, or opponents’ tendencies, it seems like the league’s passing volume suggests we field five defensive backs most of the time, including a slot corner. That would leave six other positions. If we deploy large defensive tackles as run-stoppers to shore up the rush defense, how do we put the strength of our lineup on the field? I know coaches with more knowledge than I have face this constantly, but doesn’t this remain a persistent challenge?
Ed answers: Gregg, this is the same challenge we discussed last season. The question was whether Shane Bowen could rise to the occasion and maximize the talent the Giants had. He wasn’t able to, and he was fired. I feel better about the new defensive coordinator, Dennard Wilson, this year, especially with John Harbaugh being a coach who openly spends more time with the defense than the offense. Getting the right players on the field and placing them in the best roles to succeed is always a challenge in the NFL. Sub-packages are the norm, and players cycle on and off the field.